Global Pulse

分类： world

  • Doctors Without Borders: Sudan’s el-Fasher largely destroyed and empty

    Doctors Without Borders: Sudan’s el-Fasher largely destroyed and empty

    The city of el-Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur region has been rendered a desolate wasteland, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which gained rare access to the area for the first time since February 2025. During a four-hour assessment on January 15, MSF personnel witnessed extensive devastation throughout the regional capital, characterizing it as ‘largely destroyed’ and ’emptied of the communities that once inhabited it.’

    The humanitarian organization reported that the city now resembles a ghost town, with minimal civilian presence remaining after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the strategic location in October following a 550-day siege. Although MSF described the visit as too brief for comprehensive evaluation, it provided alarming evidence of the massive scale of destruction and population displacement that occurred during the military takeover.

    Survivors who managed to escape el-Fasher have provided harrowing accounts to various media and humanitarian organizations, detailing widespread atrocities including systematic massacres, mass rape incidents, and extensive looting perpetrated by RSF forces. Middle East Eye has corroborated these reports through analysis of footage showing RSF fighters specifically targeting civilians attempting to flee the conflict zone.

    The human cost of the siege has been catastrophic. Prior to the RSF offensive, approximately 260,000 residents were trapped within the city under siege conditions. Current estimates from the UN’s World Food Programme suggest between 70,000 to 100,000 individuals may remain trapped within the devastated urban center. The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab has further estimated that the RSF disposed of tens of thousands of bodies through burning or burial following their seizure of the city.

    Meanwhile, the conflict continues to expand geographically, with RSF recently launching new offensives in Sudan’s Blue Nile state, even as the Sudanese Armed Forces managed to break a two-year siege on the southern city of Dilling. The broader national conflict, which erupted in April 2023 over disputes regarding the integration of RSF into the regular military, has reportedly resulted in over 150,000 fatalities and displaced approximately 14 million people nationwide.

  • US military destroyer docks at Israel’s Eilat port, Israeli media reports

    US military destroyer docks at Israel’s Eilat port, Israeli media reports

    In a significant military deployment amid heightened regional tensions, a United States Navy destroyer has arrived at the Israeli port of Eilat, according to reports from Israel’s Ynet news outlet. The vessel’s positioning on the Gulf of Aqaba places it near Israel’s strategic borders with both Egypt and Jordan.

    Israeli military sources indicated the docking was pre-coordinated as part of ongoing defense cooperation between the two allied nations, though both US Naval command and Israeli defense forces declined official commentary when approached by Reuters.

    The naval deployment coincides with contradictory signals from the Trump administration regarding Iran policy. While President Donald Trump has expressed openness to diplomatic engagement with Tehran, his administration has simultaneously bolstered military presence throughout the Middle East region.

    A US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, emphasized that operational details remain classified to ensure personnel safety. Pentagon representative Pete Hegseth affirmed military readiness to execute whatever actions the commander-in-chief might order.

    The strategic maneuvering occurs against a backdrop of escalating rhetoric. Trump has demanded Iran return to negotiations concerning its nuclear program under threat of “far harsher US action,” while Iranian leadership has vowed retaliation against American, Israeli, and allied targets if provoked. The President previously referenced an approaching “armada” destined for Iranian waters while simultaneously expressing hope that military force wouldn’t be necessary.

  • Satellite photos show activity at Iran nuclear sites as tensions rise over protest crackdown

    Satellite photos show activity at Iran nuclear sites as tensions rise over protest crackdown

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Satellite imagery has revealed significant new construction activity at two Iranian nuclear facilities previously damaged in military strikes, raising concerns about Tehran’s efforts to conceal potential salvage operations of nuclear materials. Recent images from Planet Labs PBC show newly constructed roofs covering damaged structures at both the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites, marking the first major observable activity since last year’s conflict with Israel.

    The protective coverings effectively block satellite surveillance, creating a critical intelligence gap as Iran continues to deny access to International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors. Neither Iranian officials nor the IAEA have publicly commented on these developments.

    According to nuclear experts analyzing the imagery, the roofing projects likely represent attempts to obscure assessment and recovery operations rather than reconstruction efforts. Andrea Stricker of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies noted that Tehran appears to be determining ‘whether key assets — such as limited stocks of highly enriched uranium — survived the strikes’ without international observation.

    The Natanz facility, located approximately 220 kilometers south of Tehran, previously served as Iran’s primary uranium enrichment center, where advanced centrifuges enriched uranium to 60% purity—just a technical step from weapons-grade levels. The Isfahan site primarily produced uranium gas for centrifuge processing.

    Following June’s 12-day conflict, Israeli strikes initially targeted these facilities, with subsequent U.S. attacks employing bunker-busting bombs and Tomahawk cruise missiles. The U.S. government claimed these operations ‘significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear program,’ though specific damage assessments remain scarce publicly.

    Additional concerning developments include ongoing excavation work at Kūh-e Kolang Gaz Lā (Pickaxe Mountain) near Natanz, where Iran is suspected of constructing a new underground nuclear facility. Meanwhile, at Isfahan, satellite imagery shows defensive measures including tunnels packed with dirt as protection against missile strikes.

    Parallel reconstruction efforts are underway at Iran’s ballistic missile facilities, including the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran. Particularly notable is the rapid rebuilding of the ‘Taleghan 2’ site—destroyed in an October 2024 airstrike—which previously housed explosive chambers and specialized X-ray systems for nuclear weapons research.

    These developments occur amid escalating regional tensions, with the U.S. deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers to the Middle East. Former President Trump had repeatedly demanded Iran negotiate over its nuclear program while threatening military action in response to Tehran’s crackdown on domestic protests.

  • Cubans scramble to survive as US vise on island tightens in push to oust government

    Cubans scramble to survive as US vise on island tightens in push to oust government

    HAVANA — As Washington intensifies its economic pressure campaign against Cuba, citizens across the communist-led island are adopting innovative survival strategies to counter what experts characterize as a deliberate attempt to trigger popular unrest and governmental change.

    The economic stranglehold has tightened considerably following recent disruptions to vital Venezuelan oil shipments after US interventions in Caracas. While the full impact of these energy shortages remains impending, Cubans are proactively transforming their lifestyles in anticipation of further hardships.

    Across the island, a quiet revolution in self-reliance is underway. Urban residents are installing solar energy systems, rural communities are returning to subsistence farming, and many are consciously adopting simpler technologies that bypass petroleum dependencies.

    Jose Ángel Méndez Faviel exemplifies this trend, having relocated from central Havana to a farm in Bacuranao to escape the nation’s severe blackouts. “It’s how you survive,” Méndez explained. “It’s best to depend on yourself.” His new agrarian lifestyle enables cooking with firewood and charcoal—impossible in his former darkened city apartment.

    Méndez remains uncertain about President Trump’s specific threats against Cuba but refuses to gamble with his family’s welfare. He has begun stockpiling gasoline, charcoal, and homegrown produce cultivated on his farm. The practical farmer is even considering repurchasing the horse he previously sold, recognizing that “You don’t need fuel for a horse. We need to go back in time.”

    The current crisis compounds existing challenges including chronic blackouts, hyperinflation, and scarcity of basic goods. President Trump’s recent executive order imposing tariffs on nations supplying oil to Cuba has amplified fears of catastrophic economic collapse, with the president himself declaring Cuba “very close to failing.”

    Yet many Cubans dismiss such predictions, particularly those who endured the 1990s “Special Period” following Soviet aid reductions. Yadián Silva, a nurse and classic car driver who has witnessed tourism’s dramatic decline, articulated the prevailing sentiment: “We have problems, and we know we have a lot of problems. But when things happen in Cuba, it’s because people truly feel they should happen. Not because someone from the outside says, ‘do this.’”

    This defiance manifested visibly during recent commemorations for national hero José Martí, where tens of thousands of torch-bearing Cubans, predominantly university students, marched through Havana. Sheyla Ibatao Ruíz, a 21-year-old law student, declared: “We are a dignified people, a people eager to move forward, eager to prosper, who do not believe in threats and are not intimidated by any reprisals from the enemy.”

    Meanwhile, technological innovation flourishes within the constraints. Ángel Eduardo launched “Con Voltage,” a solar installation business, after frustration with studying in darkness hampered his engineering education. Utilizing social media and AI tools like ChatGPT, Eduardo has installed dozens of solar systems across Cuba, experiencing surging demand since Venezuelan oil disruptions began.

    For older entrepreneurs like 62-year-old Niuvis Bueno Zavala, adaptation means exploring new revenue streams for her seaside drink stall. “I’ve never had it this hard,” she confessed, contemplating homemade food sales amid economic blockade.

    The sentiment resonates with retired pilot Pedro Carbonell, who recently waited over two hours for gasoline. “If we don’t have fuel, then we’ll ride bicycles,” he stated, echoing the resilience of the Special Period. “Our wine is bitter. But it’s our wine. And we don’t want anyone from somewhere else coming here and telling us how to drink our wine.”

  • What a reporter found when she returned to Cuba after last trip 3 years ago

    What a reporter found when she returned to Cuba after last trip 3 years ago

    HAVANA — Three years after her previous assignment, Caribbean correspondent Dánica Coto returned to a Cuba transformed by escalating economic hardship and infrastructure decay. In an exclusive interview with AP editor Laura Martínez, Coto documented a nation grappling with unprecedented challenges that permeate every aspect of daily life.

    The visual landscape of Havana tells a story of systemic breakdown. Mountains of garbage accumulate at tourist destinations, where neatly dressed Cubans now scavenge through waste for reusable containers. The colonial architecture that once defined the city’s charm is rapidly deteriorating, with historic facades crumbling into rubble across numerous neighborhoods.

    Energy infrastructure has reached critical failure levels. Chronic power outages plunge the capital into darkness nightly, while fuel shortages create hours-long queues at gasoline stations. Municipal services have deteriorated significantly—garbage trucks and agricultural equipment sit idle without spare parts, and office buildings routinely lack basic amenities like toilet paper and running water by afternoon.

    Cubans demonstrate remarkable resilience through adaptive survival strategies. Families increasingly rely on firewood and charcoal for cooking amid natural gas shortages. Those with means invest in solar panels, while others cultivate personal gardens. Despite these efforts, cash shortages force crowds outside banks, and communication networks experience growing disruptions.

    The nation’s economic crisis deepens amid geopolitical pressures. Many Cubans lived through the 1990s Special Period following Soviet collapse, but current conditions threaten to surpass that hardship. Experts warn that disrupted oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico—combined with new U.S. tariffs on nations supplying Cuba—could trigger catastrophic consequences.

    U.S.-Cuba relations have deteriorated significantly under the Trump administration, which redesignated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism and intensified rhetoric about regime change. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, son of Cuban immigrants, recently declared Cuba “a country that’s been backward” with “no functional economy.”

    Despite these pressures, the Cuban government maintains its defiant posture while citizens express determination to resist external manipulation. The revolutionary slogan “Patria o muerte, venceremos!” (Homeland or death, we will overcome!) continues to resonate, embodying both ideological commitment and the stark choices facing the nation.

  • US warship docks in Gulf of Aqaba as fears of Iran strike grow

    US warship docks in Gulf of Aqaba as fears of Iran strike grow

    A United States military vessel commenced docking operations in the Gulf of Aqaba on Friday amid rapidly escalating tensions with Iran, according to reports from Israel’s public broadcaster Kan. This strategic deployment forms part of enhanced military preparations and security coordination between American and Israeli defense forces.

    The naval movement reinforces existing deployments and elevates both defensive and offensive readiness in anticipation of potential regional developments, as confirmed by security sources. The Gulf of Aqaba holds particular strategic significance as it lies directly south of Eilat, the Israeli port city that suspended operations in July following financial difficulties exacerbated by attacks from Yemen’s Houthi movement.

    Concurrent with these developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a high-level security meeting with senior military officials on Thursday to address classified matters. Israeli media outlets reported the discussions centered on potential US military action against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Adding to the diplomatic activity, Israel’s military intelligence directorate head, Shlomi Binder, visited Washington on Wednesday for consultations regarding sensitive issues potentially related to Israeli strike capabilities against Iranian targets.

    The geopolitical tensions unfold against the backdrop of ongoing civil unrest in Iran, where protests initially triggered by economic pressures and cost-of-living crises have been met with government crackdowns. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have accused Israel of orchestrating violence and attempting to provoke US military intervention.

    As precautionary measures, several southern Israeli municipalities including Dimona, Beersheba and Gan Yavne have activated public bomb shelters. Israeli military chief of staff Eyal Zamir has directed increased defensive readiness across all military formations according to Haaretz reports.

    The US has significantly reinforced its military presence in the region with the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, positioning forces within striking distance of Iran. Additional deployments include F-15E Strike Eagles to Jordan, B-52 bombers to Qatar, and an expected THAAD air defense battery. President Trump characterized these movements as dispatching a ‘massive armada’ while warning Tehran against nuclear program advancement.

    Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Akbarzadeh issued counter-warnings that neighboring countries permitting their territory to be used against Iran would be ‘considered hostile.’ Regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Oman and Kuwait have expressed concerns about potential collateral damage from any conflict. Despite tensions, Iranian officials including First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref have indicated openness to negotiations under ‘fair, balanced and non-coercive terms.’

  • UN nuclear watchdog discusses risks to Ukraine’s nuclear safety after relentless Russian strikes

    UN nuclear watchdog discusses risks to Ukraine’s nuclear safety after relentless Russian strikes

    VIENNA — The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors convened an urgent special session on Friday to address escalating nuclear safety concerns in Ukraine amid intensifying Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. The meeting, requested by the Netherlands with backing from eleven nations including Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom, aimed to amplify diplomatic pressure on Moscow despite lacking binding authority.

    Netherlands Ambassador Peter Potman presented alarming testimony, detailing how Russia’s ‘ongoing and daily’ assaults have crippled Ukraine’s energy grid during severe winter conditions. ‘These attacks not only deprive millions of Ukrainians of heating and electricity but critically compromise nuclear safety,’ Potman warned, noting the heightened prospect of a nuclear incident approaching ‘the very precipice of reality.’

    IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized the direct correlation between damaged electrical substations and nuclear risk, stating such targeting ‘undermines nuclear safety and must be avoided.’ An IAEA expert mission is currently assessing ten critical substations essential for maintaining safety at Ukrainian nuclear facilities.

    Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure includes four active power plants, with the Zaporizhzhia facility remaining under Russian occupation since 2022. While plants generate power internally, they require continuous external electricity for reactor cooling systems. Emergency diesel generators provide backup during power losses, but consecutive failures could precipitate meltdown scenarios.

    Ukrainian Ambassador Yurii Vitrenko urged the IAEA to intensify scrutiny of Russia’s ‘systematic destruction’ of energy infrastructure, acknowledging U.S. President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts to curb attacks. However, specifics regarding Russia’s purported commitment to temporarily suspend bombardments remained unclear amid one of Ukraine’s most severe winters in recent history.

  • Ethiopia’s national carrier cancels flights to Tigray region as fears grow of renewed fighting

    Ethiopia’s national carrier cancels flights to Tigray region as fears grow of renewed fighting

    Ethiopian Airlines has abruptly suspended all flights to and from the northern Tigray region, citing “unplanned circumstances” as tensions escalate between federal forces and Tigrayan authorities. The cancellation, now extending into its second day, signals deteriorating security conditions with reports of drone surveillance and military movements in western and southern Tigray.

    Anonymous security officials confirm the flight suspensions are directly linked to renewed hostilities, triggering civilian exodus attempts by road. In Mekele, Tigray’s capital, transportation services face overwhelming demand with bus bookings to Addis Ababa completely full until next Tuesday. Residents report forming extensive queues at banks and ATMs, many of which have exhausted their cash reserves, as panic buying intensifies.

    This crisis emerges just three years after the landmark 2022 peace agreement that ended a devastating two-year civil war claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. Both sides now accuse each other of violating the truce—Tigray leaders cite federal government drone strikes while Ethiopia alleges Eritrean mobilization of armed groups along their shared border.

    The geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically since the previous conflict. Peace and conflict experts note the potential formation of a strategic alliance between Tigray’s ruling party (TPLF) and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, which could fundamentally alter regional dynamics. Unlike the 2020-2022 war where Tigray was encircled by hostile forces, this configuration might provide Tigray with open supply lines and military support from Eritrea.

    The escalating situation occurs against broader regional tensions regarding sea access. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who previously won the Nobel Peace Prize for reconciling with Eritrea, has recently adopted assertive rhetoric about securing Red Sea access—comments perceived as provocative by neighboring nations. With Ethiopia currently dependent on Djibouti’s ports amid high fees, and Eritrea accusing Ethiopia of harboring “war agendas” targeting its ports, the region faces compounded instability.

  • Worried families in India urge return of crew on ship seized by Iran

    Worried families in India urge return of crew on ship seized by Iran

    Sixteen Indian nationals remain detained in Iran following the controversial seizure of oil tanker MT Valiant Roar in international waters on December 8th. The vessel, operated by Dubai-based Prime Tankers LLC, was apprehended by Iranian authorities alleging transportation of 6,000 metric tonnes of illegal diesel—a claim vehemently denied by the shipping company.

    The geopolitical landscape has complicated resolution efforts, with Iran experiencing significant domestic unrest since late December and increased US military presence in the region creating additional tensions. According to documents filed by India’s foreign ministry in Delhi High Court, ten Indian crew members have been formally arrested and transferred to Bandar Abbas prison, while six remain confined aboard the vessel under deteriorating conditions.

    Families report severe humanitarian concerns, citing inadequate food supplies, limited potable water, and unsanitary living conditions as generators fail and waste disposal systems malfunction. Most personal communication devices have been confiscated, though one phone permits intermittent contact with relatives.

    Diplomatic channels have achieved partial success, with consular access secured for the imprisoned seafarers though not yet for those remaining onboard. The Indian embassy indicates Iranian authorities will facilitate access pending clearances from naval and prosecutorial offices.

    The vessel’s owner, Jugwinder Brar—currently under US sanctions—maintains the ship carried legitimate Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) for company operations. Brar alleges Iran previously seized another Prime Tankers vessel under similar pretenses in December 2023, with three crew members still imprisoned after nine months.

    Maritime unions and families condemn the detention of crew members as fundamentally unjust. ‘Cargo disputes should be settled with companies, not workers,’ stated Gayatri Singh, wife of detained Chief Officer Anil Kumar Singh, echoing sentiments that seafarers are being used as ‘human shields’ in broader geopolitical conflicts.

    The situation remains critical for families awaiting reunification, particularly with contractual end dates having passed in January and personal milestones like planned weddings now in jeopardy.

  • Foreign women linked to IS group in Syrian camp hope for amnesty after government offensive

    Foreign women linked to IS group in Syrian camp hope for amnesty after government offensive

    ROJ CAMP, Syria — Foreign women affiliated with the Islamic State group, currently detained in northeastern Syria’s Roj camp, are expressing renewed hope for potential amnesty following significant territorial shifts in the region’s military balance.

    The camp, housing over 2,300 individuals primarily comprising women and children with IS connections, remains under the guard of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. However, a recent government offensive has substantially weakened the SDF’s control, capturing most of their previously held territories including the massive al-Hol camp which detained approximately 24,000 IS-linked individuals.

    Camp residents interviewed by The Associated Press revealed growing optimism that Syria’s new leadership might offer clemency. This sentiment stems from the political transformation of Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani), once a designated terrorist linked to al-Qaeda, who now serves as interim president following the toppling of Bashar Assad in December 2024.

    Buthaina, a Tunisian national who has been detained for nine years, articulated the prevailing hope: “The international community gave al-Golani amnesty. I should be given amnesty too. I did not kill anyone or do anything.”

    Camp director Hakmiyeh Ibrahim reported noticeable behavioral changes among residents, who have become increasingly hostile and emboldened by recent developments. “It gave them hope that the Islamic State group is coming back strongly,” Ibrahim observed.

    The situation highlights the complex international dilemma regarding repatriation. While some women express desire to return to their home countries, others like German national Aysha prefer remaining in Syria, stating “Germany is all infidels.” Meanwhile, human rights organizations criticize the prolonged detention without trial as a political failure.

    Beatrice Eriksson of Repatriate the Children in Sweden noted: “The continued existence of these camps is not an unfortunate by-product of conflict, it is a political decision.”

    With Syrian government forces now controlling key detention facilities and part of a ceasefire agreement involving transfer of camp management to Damascus, the future of these detainees hangs in uncertainty as the world watches how Syria’s new leadership will handle this enduring legacy of the IS caliphate.